Dnyanesh Kamat, Senior Manager of Policy and Research illustrating a concept on one of the space's integrated white boards.

Staff retreat and office warming

Massimo Bergamini

Last June 22-23, CMA staff gathered for two days of visioning, planning, reconnecting and learning more about each other and about CMA’s new hybrid workspace and office.

CMA president Heather George joined the staff group in the two days of far-reaching discussions about the current state of the organization and of the museum and heritage sector.

Participants were enthusiastic about the opportunity to connect with colleagues in-person — many for the first time — to learn more about ways of working together in a hybrid environment, examining ways the board and staff can support each other, identifying bottlenecks and getting more clarity about where the CMA is going as an association and how it’s going to get there.

The facilitated discussions landed on several concrete actions to develop a new CMA value proposition that is better aligned to the pressing needs of Canada’s diverse museum community and that will grow its relevance for the sector.

The CMA 2.0 as imagined by staff “is open, transparent, accepting of change, communicative, inclusive, and addresses the country’s challenges. It promotes enthusiasm, diversity, and inclusion as well as the principles of UNDRIP and exercises credible, accessible leadership to the museum community at large.”

The report has been shared with the CMA Board and President George told staff that it will inform the Board’s September strategic planning retreat. A summary of the report is available on the CMA member portal.